Diversified Portfolio to Deliver the Growth Potential Of Large Cap Stocks While Seeking Attractive Cash Flow

NEW YORK, September 28, 2005 – Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) today announced the introduction of the Goldman Sachs U.S. Equity Dividend and Premium Fund (Class A: GSPAX; Class C: GSPQX; Class I: GSPKX). The Fund may be attractive to investors who seek the growth potential of equities, attractive cash flow potential, and tax efficiency in their taxable portfolios. In seeking to generate an attractive yield, the portfolio management team will emphasize higher dividend-paying stocks within each industry and sector of the S&P 500 – while maintaining industry and sector weights similar to the S&P 500.

To further increase the portfolio's cash flow potential, the team will also regularly write call options against the S&P 500 Index. The goal of each call option will be to generate a premium that, when combined with the portfolio's dividend yield, offers a more attractive after-tax cash flow to investors. In addition to generating cash flow, premiums received may help reduce the Fund's price volatility.

Along with potential price appreciation of the portfolio's underlying equity securities, cash flow from dividend income and from premiums will comprise the Fund's total return.

"This Fund utilizes innovative investment strategies to address specific investor needs," notes Donald Mulvihill, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager for Tax-Efficient Strategies at GSAM. "There are a growing number of people retiring with defined contribution plans rather than pension plans, for example. This Fund may be appropriate for such investors, who require cash flow to meet current spending needs, but also may need the growth potential of equities to offset the impact of inflation over a long retirement." Mr. Mulvihill also believes the Fund "may be appropriate in a sustained period of low but positive equity market returns." Of course, no one can predict future market performance.

During periods in which the U.S. equity markets are generally unchanged or declining, the Fund's portfolio may outperform the same portfolio without the options because of the premiums received. Similarly, in a modestly rising equity market – where premium income is greater than the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over the options' exercise prices – the Fund's portfolio may outperform the same equity portfolio without the call options. However, in other rising markets where the aggregate appreciation of the underlying index over the options' exercise prices exceeds the premium income, the Fund's portfolio is expected to underperform a like portfolio that does not write call options.

Since tax considerations matter, the Fund is also designed to be tax-efficient. Because long-term gains are generally taxed at a lower rate than short-term gains – typically 15% vs. a maximum rate of 35% on ordinary income -- the portfolio management team will seek to:

• Realize short-term losses and long-term gains • Limit portfolio turnover that may result in short-term capital gains• Sell securities with a higher tax basis before those with a lower tax basis• Realize losses to offset short-term and long-term capital gains

The call options sold by the Fund, which represent the purchaser's right but not the obligation to purchase a security for a specific price within a specific time frame, will generally have expirations of three months or less. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will sell call options in an amount between 25% and 75% of the value of the Fund's portfolio.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management's Quantitative Equity team of 44 strategists, portfolio managers and research analysts will manage the Fund. The investment team will use proprietary quantitative investment techniques – including optimization tools, a risk model and a transaction cost model – to identify a portfolio of stocks that it believes may enhance dividend yield while tracking as closely as possible the S&P 500 Index, the Fund's benchmark, along with the Lehman Aggregate Bond Index. The Fund, which is being offered to institutions and individuals, is expected to hold between 100 and 150 stocks and will be offered to investors in Class A and C shares with a minimum investment of $1,000. The Fund will also offer Institutional Class shares.

The Goldman Sachs U.S. Equity Dividend and Premium Fund invests primarily in dividend-paying equity investments in large-capitalization U.S. equity issuers and is subject to market risk so that the value of the securities in which it invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies, particular industry sectors and/or general economic conditions.

The Fund is also subject to the risks associated with writing (selling) call options. Writing (selling) call options may reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of owning stocks. However, it also limits the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market value of stocks in exchange for up-front cash at the time of selling the call option. In a rising market, the Fund could significantly underperform the market. In addition, the Fund may also experience a loss on the expiration date of a call position if the value of the Fund's portfolio securities has fallen since the purchase date of the securities by an amount greater than the premium received for the option that was sold.

The Fund is also subject to the risk that the pre-tax performance of the Fund may be lower than the performance of a similar Fund that is not tax-managed. This is because the Investment Advisor to the Fund may choose not to make certain sales of securities that may result in taxable distributions. Of course, no assurance can be offered that the Fund's tax-managed strategies will reduce the amount of taxable income and capital gains distributed by the Fund to shareholders.

The Fund may invest in foreign securities, which may be more volatile and less liquid than investment in U.S. securities and will be subject to the risks of currency fluctuations and sudden economic or political developments. The Fund will also be subject to the risk of negative foreign currency rate fluctuations. The Fund may also invest in REITs. REITS whose underlying properties are concentrated in a particular industry or geographic region are also subject to risks affecting such industries and regions and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements. At times, the Fund may be unable to sell certain of its portfolio securities without a substantial drop in price, if at all. Investments in fixed income securities are subject to the risks associated with debt securities including credit and interest rate risk.

The Fund may make investments in derivative instruments, including options, financial futures, Eurodollar futures contracts, swaps, options on swaps, structured securities and other derivative investments. Derivative instruments may involve a high degree of financial risk. These risks include the risk that a small movement in the price of the underlying security or benchmark may result in a disproportionately large movement, unfavorable or favorable, in the price of the derivative instrument; risks of default by a counterparty, and the risks that transactions may not be liquid.

Any statement contained in this communication (including any attachments) concerning U.S. tax matters is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This communication is for internal use only.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management is the asset management arm of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), and manages $520 billion as of August 26, 2005. Goldman Sachs Asset Management has been providing discretionary investment advisory services since 1989 and has investment professionals in all major financial centers around the world. The company offers investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes to institutional and individual clients globally. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm.

A prospectus for the Goldman Sachs US Equity Dividend and Premium Fund containing more complete information may be obtained from your investment professional or from Goldman, Sachs & Co. by calling 1-800-526-7384. Please consider the Fund's objectives, risks, and charges and expenses, and read the prospectuses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund.

The S&P 500 Stock Index is the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Prices Index of 500 stocks, an unmanaged index of common stock prices. The Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index represents an unmanaged diversified portfolio of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Treasuries, investment-grade corporate bonds, and mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Index figures do not reflect any deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an unmanaged index.

Goldman Sachs does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. Any statement contained in this communication (including any attachments) concerning U.S. tax matters was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, and was written to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed. Clients of Goldman Sachs should obtain their own independent tax advice based on their particular circumstances.